The Bronze Pen

By Zilpha Keatley Snyder

Book Overview

Twelve-year-old Audrey Abbott dreams of becoming a writer, but with her father's failing health and the family's shaky finances, it seems there is no room for what her overworked mother would surely call a childish fantasy. So Audrey keeps her writing a secret. That is, until she meets a mysterious old woman who seems able to read her mind. Audrey is surprised at how readily she reveals her secret to the woman.

One day the old woman gives Audrey a peculiar bronze pen and tells her to "use it wisely and to good purpose." It turns out to be just perfect for writing her stories with. But as Audrey writes, odd things start happening. Did Beowulf, her dog, just speak to her? And what is that bumping under her bed at night? It seems that whatever she writes with the pen comes true. However, things don't always happen in the way that she wants or expects. In fact, it's quite difficult to predict what writing with the pen will do. Could the pen be more of a curse than a gift? Or will Audrey be able to rewrite the future in the way that she wishes---and save her father's life?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416942084
• ISBN13: 9781416942085
• Release Date: February 2009
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 7.4"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

An intriguing read about possibilities and friendship.

Friendship, hope, drama and a few laughs. Well worth reading

Short and Sweet

I have to admit, I glanced at this one and almost put it back down again, but then I caught the words, "Loathed by Lemony Snicket" on the cover. Well, that did it. I was hoping the hook that drew me in meant that this was going to be a nice, sarcastic, dark, little volume along Snicket's lines. It was not. However, what it turned out to be was good in its own right, if not the perfect book for the grown-up kid's book reader. Audrey Abbott is an only child -- very smart, very imaginative, and a little lonely. She wants to be a writer, but it is a dream she keeps from everyone, even her father. Maybe especially her father. Ever since he had the heart attack and had to quit work, she doesn't want to do anything that might worry him. Announcing plans to be something as unusual as a writer might make his heart hurt again. She's grown away from her friends, she has to stay home with her father in any case, and instead she spends most of her time reading and writing. This fact is not changed the day she follows an intelligent duck who leads her to a cave where she is given the bronze pen. She loves writing with this pen, but notices pretty soon that strange things happen when she uses it. Could it have some sort of power? She works on the mystery when she meets her new best friend, a transfer student whose drawing compliments Audrey's writing. Can they figure it out? Or is using the bronze pen, "wisely and well," as she was instructed, impossible? This was a charming little story, and perfect for its target audience, if a little predictable. It is hard not to feel like Audrey is being a bit dim on more than one occasion, but I should probably give small children a bit of a break! Very sweet, magical, and clean without being lame. Perfect for girls around 10 or 11

EXTRAordinary story!

I am an adult who peruses books for grandchildren - for suitability of age and a "funness" of adventure. This book is so well written in fantasy but down-to-earth for kids. It is full of regular experiences for children to understand but also possible fantasy. How many kids would love a bronze pen that writes adventure and in the end provides a happy ending? It is a very short read - only 200 pages, but enough to keep them reading and enjoying. Forget those horrible Lemony Snicket books that belong in the trash and buy some real literature for the little ones. A good buy.